Verbs are either in active or passive voice. We use Active Voice most of the time. Active Voice has subject first and object second. In the Active Voice, the object receives the action of the verb. In Passive Voice it is the opposite. In the Passive Voice, the subject receives the action of the verb. In the Active Voice, the subject and verb relationship is straightforward; the subject is the do-er (of the action). In the Passive Voice, the subject of the sentence is not a do-er (of the action). Passive voice is used when the action is the focus, not the subject. By Arundathie Abeysinghe Lecturer in English International Aviation Academy (IAA) SriLankan Airlines

1. By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Lecturer in English
International Aviation Academy
SriLankan Airlines
1Arundathie Abeysinghe
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WLbMisHAavDNRpbX4Kv0sg

2. What is Active Voice?
Describes a sentence where the subject performs
the action stated by the verb
The voice that we use often
In the active voice, the object receives the action of
the verb
e.g. Children eat apples.
2Arundathie Abeysinghe

3. What is Passive Voice?
Describes a sentence where the subject is acted upon by
the verb
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the
verb
The object of the active verb becomes the subject of the
passive verb
e.g. Apples are eaten by children.
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4. How to rewrite Active Voice
sentences in Passive Voice?
In Passive Voice, the object of the active sentence
becomes the subject
In Passive Voice, the subject of the active sentence
becomes the object
The finite form of the verb is changed
e.g. to be + past participle
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5. In Passive Voice, the object of the active verb
becomes the subject of the passive verb
Subject Verb Object
Active Children eat apples
Passive Apples are eaten by children
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6. How are passive forms made?
Made up of the verb be with a past participle:

 Verb ‘ be’ Past
 participle
Apples are eaten by children
The shop will be opened at 9.00 a.m.
She has been called for the interview
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7. Examples of Passive Voice
Tense Subject Verb Object
Simple Active Brian writes an article.
Present Passive An article is written by Brian.
Simple Active Brian wrote an article.
Past Passive An article was written by Brian.
Simple Active Brian will write an article.
Future Passive An article will be written by Brian.
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8. Tense Subject Verb Object
Present Active Brian has written an article.
Perfect Passive An article has been written by Brian.
Present Active Brian is writing an article.
Progressive Passive An article is being written by Brian.
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9. Tense Subject Verb Object
Past Active Brian was writing an article.
Progressive Passive An article was being written Brian.
Past Active Brian has written an article.
Perfect Passive An article had been written by Brian.
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10. Tense Subject Verb Object
Simple Active Brian will write an article.
future Passive An article will be written by Brian.
Future Active Brian will have written the article.
Perfect Passive An article will have been written by Brian.
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11. Tense Subject Verb Object
Conditional Active Brian would write an article.
Sentence I Passive An article would be written by Brian.
Conditional Active Brian would have written an article.
Sentence II Passive An article would have been written by Brian.
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12. Following tenses cannot be changed into Passive Voice
Present perfect continuous tense
Past perfect continuous tense
Future continuous tense
Future perfect continuous tense
Sentences having Intransitive verbs
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13. Thank you!
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